Ireland 2017 report

Please summarize in max 3500 characters the main achievements and challenges in implementing the Convention and the outlook for the future. Please note this is not an introduction to the report or an annotated table of contents.

The main result achieved for Ireland in implementing the Convention is the development of a coordinated national cultural policy, through the documents Culture 2025, Making Great Art Work, and the Creative Ireland Programme, that will support the promotion of cultural expression in general and the diversity of cultural expressions in particular.

The primary challenge in implementing an integrated national cultural policy was the coordination of many different arts bodies, Government departments, state agencies and local government bodies, all of which had various responsibilities for arts and culture, to support and contribute to the policy.

This challenge was overcome through an open and engaged process of consultation - public in the case of the Creative Ireland Programme and invited in the case of Culture 2025 - that encouraged stakeholders in Irish cultural and arts policy, promotion and implementation to give their input on Government draft policy, provide their perspectives and the benefit of their experience, and suggest ways in which the final forms of such policy could align with their goals and messages.

Over the next four years the goals of Creative Ireland, and beyond that the goals of Culture 2025 and Making Great Art Work will be implemented, integrating and strengthening Ireland's cultural policy approach through a huge variety of initiatives and building on the legacy of Ireland's 2016 programme. These policies will promote creativity, mainstream the arts and culture in the life of the nation, and build a sustainable future for the arts in Ireland.

Technical Information

Party:

Ireland

Date of ratification:

22/12/2006

Organization(s) or entity(es) responsible for the preparation of the report:

Name of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, involved in the preparation of the report:

Describe the multi-stakeholder consultation process established for the preparation of this report

The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has responsibility for drafting and implementing arts policy in Ireland. The Department funds and works closely with the Arts Council, who are the Irish government agency with primary responsibility for the promotion and development of the arts in Ireland (http://www.artscouncil.ie).

As such, both organisations worked closely together on the preparation of this report. The consultation process also involved:

– Culture Ireland, who work to promote Irish arts worldwide;

– Ireland's Creative Europe Desks – Culture & Media, who promote and support the Creative Europe programme at local, regional and national level;

– Creative Ireland, an Irish governmental culture-based initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation.

– The Department of Education and Skills in respect of the arts in education elements.

All these stakeholders were involved in preparing this report, which was coordinated by the Department and the Arts Council.

Overview of Cultural Policy Context

Parties shall describe the key objectives and priorities of their current cultural policy and the impact the Convention has had in their formulation or reformulation. They will also report on the opportunities and challenges to promote the diversity of cultural expressions in a digital environment.:

Ireland's current cultural policy is shaped by three significant documents: the Government's Culture 2025 policy framework, to be finalised and launched in late 2017; the Arts Council's strategy document Making Great Art Work (2016-2025); the Creative Ireland Programme (2017-2022).

Through Culture 2025, the Government aims to:

– Enrich the lives of everyone through engagement in the cultural life of the nation

– Create opportunities for increased citizen participation, especially for those currently excluded

– Encourage ambition, risk, innovation and excellence in the creative and cultural sectors

– Ensure that culture is seen as a core component of the work across Government

– Recognise and support the cultural contribution of the voluntary sector

– Ensure the robustness of system which safeguard and promote Ireland’s cultural heritage

– Support a thriving Irish language, with vibrant Gaeltacht communities and other language networks

– Promote Ireland’s culture on the international stage

– Finance this vision with well-designed funding mechanisms

The key values underpinning Culture 2025 are:

– The intrinsic value of culture

– The value of culture to our lives and our communities

– The right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation

– The importance of the Irish language, our cultural heritage, folklore, games, music and the uniqueness of our Gaeltacht areas

– The value of cultural diversity, informed by the many traditions and social backgrounds now in Ireland

– The value of culture as a means of fostering a more sustainable future for Ireland, including through economic and social policy

– The value of culture in presenting Ireland to the world

Culture 2025 therefore explictly acknowledges and works to promote cultural diversity and the broader aims of the Convention.

Making Great Art Work and the Creative Ireland Programme, which are coordinated to support Culture 2025, likewise promote the diversity of cultural expressions.

a) It is (or has been) the basis for changing one or more policies?:

No

b) It is (or has been) a tool to promote policy discussion?

No

c) It is (or has been) a reference for ongoing policy development?

Yes

How?

Ireland's Culture 2025 policy framework states:

'Culture also has an important role to play in promoting tolerance, inclusivity and social cohesion in our increasingly diverse society. It should be accessible to everyone, irrespective of origin, place of residence, religious beliefs, or economic or social background. Culture also has an important role in social integration. It must reflect Ireland’s shift to a multicultural society and recognise the value of diverse cultural influences. Interaction, equality of opportunity, understanding, respect and integration all contribute to the enrichment of our culture.'

The Convention has had a strong influence on the ongoing development of this policy, given the Convention's focus on 'the importance of culture for social cohesion',

The influence of the Convention, which upholds 'the vital role of cultural interaction and creativity, which nurture and renew cultural expressions', is also evident in the Government's Creative Ireland Programme, which prioritises culture and creativity for Ireland, 'building a legacy around our cultural heritage'.

Policies and Measures

CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Name of the measure

Scope of the measure

Nature

Culture 2025

Local, Regional, National, International

institutional

Creative Ireland

Local, Regional, National, International

institutional

INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL COOPERATION

Name of the measure

Scope of the measure

Nature

Culture Ireland – Grant programme

International

financial

INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Name of the measure

Scope of the measure

Nature

Making Great Art Work – Spatial and Demographic Planning

Local, Regional, National

financial, institutional

❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Culture 2025

Context of the measure:

CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

b. Key objectives of the measure:

Culture 2025 is Ireland's first Framework Policy to embrace the whole cultural sector.

It is the beginning of a journey rather than a destination − a journey that will bring together all those involved in the arts, film, broadcasting, visual arts, cultural heritage, the Irish language and Gaeltacht with Government departments, State agencies and local authorities.

The implementation of the priorities in this Framework Policy will be guided by continued engagement with all the sectoral groups to inform future action.

Through this Framework Policy, the Government seeks to nurture creativity, boost citizen participation, and help more people to follow a sustainable career in the cultural sector, promote Ireland’s cultural wealth and ensure a cultural contribution to wider social and economic goals.

The aim is to put culture at the heart of our lives and develop a more collaborative approach across all sectors.

The Framework Policy sets out values and high-level principles to inform public policy and planning in the decade ahead.

It recognises that everyone has the right to enjoy, create and participate in the culture of their country.

It is underpinned by a commitment to increase resources for arts and heritage, to support Irish culture on the world stage, and to improve funding structures for investment in national and local services.

c. What is:

c.1. the scope of the measure:

Local

Regional

National

International

c.2. the nature of the measure:

institutional

c.3. the main feature of the measure:

Through Culture 2025, the Government aims to:

• Enrich the lives of everyone through engagement in the cultural life of the nation

• Create opportunities for increased citizen participation, especially for those currently excluded or at risk of exclusion

• Encourage ambition, risk, innovation and excellence in the creative and cultural sectors

• Ensure that culture is seen as a core component of the work across Government

• Recognise and support the cultural contribution of the voluntary sector

• Ensure the robustness of systems which safeguard and promote Ireland's cultural heritage

• Support a thriving Irish language, with vibrant Gaeltacht communities and other language networks

• Promote Ireland’s culture on the international stage

• Finance this vision with well-designed funding mechanisms

The Framework Policy is underpinned by certain key values. They are:

• The intrinsic value of culture; its richness and worth in its own right

• The value of culture and heritage to our lives and our communities

• The right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation

• The importance of the Irish language, our cultural heritage, folklore, games, music and the uniqueness of our Gaeltacht areas

• The value of cultural diversity, informed by the many traditions and social backgrounds now in Ireland

• The value of culture as a means of fostering a more sustainable future for Ireland, including through economic and social policy

• The value of culture in presenting Ireland to the world

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?:

Yes

e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?:

As a national cultural policy through the year 2025, the expected results are wide-ranging and encompass the Government's entire broader cultural approach, affecting every aspect of Irish society and culture.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure:

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Arts Council

Heritage Council

Local authorities and councils

f.2 Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

The measure will be supported through cross-Departmental Government funding as appropriate to its implementation.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to:

h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?:

Yes

h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?:

Yes

h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?:

Yes

i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?:

No

❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Creative Ireland

Context of the measure:

CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

b. Key objectives of the measure:

Creative Ireland is the Government’s Legacy Programme for Ireland 2016 – a five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. It is a high-level, high-ambition, all-ofgovernment initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation so that individually and collectively, in our personal lives and in our institutions, we can realise our full creative potential.

Creative Ireland is a culture-based programme designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. The core proposition is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. Creative Ireland is the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach, the draft cultural policy published by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in July 2016, which sees a vibrant cultural ecosystem as essential to society. Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach states that arts and culture are intrinsic to the Irish State, acknowledges the need to increase access to, and participation in, the arts, boost our creative industries, and preserve our heritage with a particular focus on language, landscape and the environment.

Creative Ireland is the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025, which seek to:

• Put culture at the heart of our lives

• Foster creativity

• Celebrate our cultural heritage and traditions

• Recognise the importance of culture to a vibrant society

• See collaboration as the new norm

• Emphasise the international dimension

• Respond to the digital age.

c. What is:

c.1. the scope of the measure:

Local

Regional

National

International

c.2. the nature of the measure:

institutional

c.3. the main feature of the measure:

Creative Ireland is underpinned by the key values identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach. They are:

• The intrinsic value of culture

• The value of culture to our lives and our communities

• The right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation

• The importance of the Irish language, our cultural heritage, folklore, games, music and the uniqueness of our Gaeltacht areas

• The value of cultural diversity, informed by the many traditions and social backgrounds now in Ireland

• The value of culture as a means of fostering a more sustainable future for Ireland, including through economic and social policy

• The value of culture in presenting Ireland to the world.

Its main feature is the collective mobilisation of Irish institutions and citizens to create an Irish cultural legacy.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?:

No

e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?:

The following ten initiatives will be completed and in place by the end of 2017:

1. A national plan to enable every child in Ireland to access tuition in music, drama, art and coding

2. A Culture and Creativity plan in every county

3. A Culture Team, Director-led, configured to local needs, in every county

4. Cruinniú na Cásca programme

5. The Departments of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Social Protection will work together to devise a mechanism to assist self-employed artists who have applied for Jobseekers Allowance. This would be a pilot scheme.

6. A plan for the development of each National Cultural Institution to 2022

7. A five year capital investment programme for the culture and heritage sector

8. An industry-wide, long-term plan, for Ireland as a global hub for the production of Film, TV Drama, and Animation

9. A unified international identity and communications programme for Ireland

10. A new Creative Ireland Forum conference to showcase the best national and international thinking will have taken place.

The five pillars of the Programme will operate through to 2022, with a wide variety of outputs.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure:

Creative Ireland

Government of Ireland

f.2 Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

Irish Government budgetary spending, as well as the use of existing resources.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to:

h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?:

No

h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?:

Yes

h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?:

Yes

i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?:

No

❭ INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL COOPERATION

Culture Ireland – Grant programme

Context of the measure:

INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL COOPERATION

b. Key objectives of the measure:

Culture Ireland promotes Irish arts worldwide. They create and support opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. They develop platforms to present outstanding Irish work to international audiences, through showcases at key global arts events, including the Edinburgh Festivals and the Venice Biennales. Culture Ireland also presented an international culture programme to celebrate the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme globally.

Culture Ireland's grant funding allows Irish artists to travel, present and perform their work to international audiences.

c. What is:

c.1. the scope of the measure:

International

c.2. the nature of the measure:

financial

c.3. the main feature of the measure:

Culture Ireland was established in 2005 to promote and advance Irish arts in a global context, helping to create international opportunities for Irish artists and cultural practitioners and leading to a deeper mutual understanding between Irish and other cultures and communities.

The strategies being pursued to help realise this mission include: providing a flexible range of international funding supports for artists and cultural practitioners; supporting Irish participation in key international showcases, festivals and promotional events; strengthening Ireland’s cultural networks abroad; exploring issues of European cultural identity, diversity and commonality; strengthening cultural relationships with other countries; encouraging diverse cultural communities in Ireland to participate in international artistic exchange and dialogue; contributing to intercultural dialogue; and managing strategic initiatives in response to Government priorities, for example a major Irish arts season in the United States in 2016 as part of Ireland's international commemoration programme.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?:

Yes

e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?:

The results of Culture Ireland's grant funding are immediately measurable:

In 2016, Culture Ireland:

supported 450 artistic projects across 60 countries

reached a live audience of 4.5 million

had 15.5 million online/tv viewers

created 260 jobs

These artistic projects included 100 festivals, over 80 theatre/music tours, 80 exhibitions and art fairs, 123 film screenings, over 40 events in the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, and 70 performance in Irish Arts Centre, New York.

In 2016, Culture Ireland also:

supported 160 international presenters to experience Irish work

led six international promotional missions abroad

supported 42 Irish bands to perform at 5 international showcases

and enabled the translation of 99 Irish books into foreign languages

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure:

Culture Ireland

f.2 Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

Culture Ireland's grant scheme is supported by Government of Ireland funding.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to:

h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?:

No

h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?:

No

h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?:

Yes

i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?:

No

❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Making Great Art Work – Spatial and Demographic Planning

Context of the measure:

INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

b. Key objectives of the measure:

Making Great Art Work establishes the coordinates by which the Arts Council will lead the development of the arts in the decade 2016–2025.

The key objectives for the Spatial and Demographic element of this plan are:

- Ensure our policy and strategy are informed by the national planning framework and by good spatial and demographic analysis

- Develop our key strategic partnership with local government

- Ensure investment in arts infrastructure is strategic and sustainable

- Advise and advocate to ensure that national, regional and local capital provision are co-ordinated and sustainable

c. What is:

c.1. the scope of the measure:

Local

Regional

National

c.2. the nature of the measure:

financial

institutional

c.3. the main feature of the measure:

There is a distinctive relationship between people, places and culture. Spatial and demographic principles and information will inform the plans by which we implement our strategy.

Spatial planning – incorporating demographic knowledge – provides important intelligence for collaborative action and shared investment by local and national stakeholders. , Arts planning must be alert to changing spatial and demographic patterns as well as to economic factors.

The sustainable, countrywide development of the arts requires changes to how local, regional and national responsibility for arts provision is exercised.

The main feature of this measure, therefore, is a shift in strategy for the integration of arts policy and planning in Ireland.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?:

Yes

e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?:

The goal of this measure is 'Well-planned arts provision that benefits people across Ireland'.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure:

Arts Council

f.2 Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

Arts Council funding from Government of Ireland.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to:

h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?:

No

h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?:

Yes

h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?:

Yes

i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?:

No

Civil Society

Parties

Have you taken initiatives involving civil society in activities to:

Promote the objectives of the convention through awareness raising and other activities:

No

Collect data and share and exchange information on measures adopted at local and international level

Yes

Please explain how:

Through the British Irish Council, Ireland collects and shares information on cultural measures adopted at local and international levels by other jurisdictions.

Provide spaces where ideas of civil societies can be heard and discussed while developing policies:

Yes

Please explain how:

An open and engaged process of consultation - public in the case of the Creative Ireland Programme and invited in the case of Culture 2025 - was implemented that encouraged stakeholders in Irish cultural and arts policy, promotion and implementation to give their input on Government draft policy, provide their perspectives and the benefit of their experience, and suggest ways in which the final forms of such policy could align with their goals and messages.

Implement Operational Guidelines

No

Other

No

Is Civil Society contributing to this report?

No

Civil Society

Has the civil society taken initiatives to:

Promote the principle and the objectives of the Convention locally and internationally:

No

Promote ratification of the Convention and its implementation by governements:

No

Bring the concerns of citizens, associations and enterprises to public authorities, including vulnerable groups:

No

Contribute to the achievement of greater transparency and accountability and accountability in the cultural governance:

No

Monitor policy and programme implementation on measures to protect and promote diversity of cultural expression:

No

Build capacities in domains linked to the Convention and carrying out data collection:

No

Create innovative partnerships with the public and private sectors and with civil society of other regions of the worlds:

No

Achievements and Challenges

Describe main results achieved in implementing the Convention:

The main result achieved for Ireland in implementing the Convention is the development of a coordinated national cultural policy, through the documents Culture 2025, Making Great Art Work, and the Creative Ireland Programme, that will support the promotion of cultural expression in general and the diversity of cultural expressions in particular.

Challenges encountered or foreseen to implement the Convention :

The primary challenge in implementing an integrated national cultural policy was the coordination of many different arts bodies, Government departments, state agencies and local government bodies, all of which had various responsibilities for arts and culture, to support and contribute to the policy.

Solutions found or envisaged to overcome those challenges:

This challenge was overcome through an open and engaged process of consultation - public in the case of the Creative Ireland Programme and invited in the case of Culture 2025 - that encouraged stakeholders in Irish cultural and arts policy, promotion and implementation to give their input on Government draft policy, provide their perspectives and the benefit of their experience, and suggest ways in which the final forms of such policy could align with their goals and messages.

Steps planned for the next 4 years:

Over the next four years the goals of Creative Ireland, Culture 2025, and Making Great Art Work will be implemented, integrating and strengthening Ireland's cultural policy approach through a huge variety of initiatives and building on the legacy of Ireland's 2016 programme. These policies will promote creativity, mainstream the arts and culture in the life of the nation, and build a sustainable future for the arts in Ireland.

Name of the designated official signing the report

Title:

Ms

Family Name:

O'Connor

First Name:

Thérèse

Position:

Assistant Principal

Organization:

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Culture 2025

Context of the measure:

CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

b. Key objectives of the measure:

Culture 2025 is Ireland's first Framework Policy to embrace the whole cultural sector.

It is the beginning of a journey rather than a destination − a journey that will bring together all those involved in the arts, film, broadcasting, visual arts, cultural heritage, the Irish language and Gaeltacht with Government departments, State agencies and local authorities.

The implementation of the priorities in this Framework Policy will be guided by continued engagement with all the sectoral groups to inform future action.

Through this Framework Policy, the Government seeks to nurture creativity, boost citizen participation, and help more people to follow a sustainable career in the cultural sector, promote Ireland’s cultural wealth and ensure a cultural contribution to wider social and economic goals.

The aim is to put culture at the heart of our lives and develop a more collaborative approach across all sectors.

The Framework Policy sets out values and high-level principles to inform public policy and planning in the decade ahead.

It recognises that everyone has the right to enjoy, create and participate in the culture of their country.

It is underpinned by a commitment to increase resources for arts and heritage, to support Irish culture on the world stage, and to improve funding structures for investment in national and local services.

c. What is:

c.1. the scope of the measure:

Local

Regional

National

International

c.2. the nature of the measure:

institutional

c.3. the main feature of the measure:

Through Culture 2025, the Government aims to:

• Enrich the lives of everyone through engagement in the cultural life of the nation

• Create opportunities for increased citizen participation, especially for those currently excluded or at risk of exclusion

• Encourage ambition, risk, innovation and excellence in the creative and cultural sectors

• Ensure that culture is seen as a core component of the work across Government

• Recognise and support the cultural contribution of the voluntary sector

• Ensure the robustness of systems which safeguard and promote Ireland's cultural heritage

• Support a thriving Irish language, with vibrant Gaeltacht communities and other language networks

• Promote Ireland’s culture on the international stage

• Finance this vision with well-designed funding mechanisms

The Framework Policy is underpinned by certain key values. They are:

• The intrinsic value of culture; its richness and worth in its own right

• The value of culture and heritage to our lives and our communities

• The right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation

• The importance of the Irish language, our cultural heritage, folklore, games, music and the uniqueness of our Gaeltacht areas

• The value of cultural diversity, informed by the many traditions and social backgrounds now in Ireland

• The value of culture as a means of fostering a more sustainable future for Ireland, including through economic and social policy

• The value of culture in presenting Ireland to the world

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?:

Yes

e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?:

As a national cultural policy through the year 2025, the expected results are wide-ranging and encompass the Government's entire broader cultural approach, affecting every aspect of Irish society and culture.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure:

Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Arts Council

Heritage Council

Local authorities and councils

f.2 Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

The measure will be supported through cross-Departmental Government funding as appropriate to its implementation.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to:

h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?:

Yes

h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?:

Yes

h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?:

Yes

i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?:

No

❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Creative Ireland

Context of the measure:

CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

b. Key objectives of the measure:

Creative Ireland is the Government’s Legacy Programme for Ireland 2016 – a five-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. It is a high-level, high-ambition, all-ofgovernment initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation so that individually and collectively, in our personal lives and in our institutions, we can realise our full creative potential.

Creative Ireland is a culture-based programme designed to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. The core proposition is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. Creative Ireland is the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach, the draft cultural policy published by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in July 2016, which sees a vibrant cultural ecosystem as essential to society. Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach states that arts and culture are intrinsic to the Irish State, acknowledges the need to increase access to, and participation in, the arts, boost our creative industries, and preserve our heritage with a particular focus on language, landscape and the environment.

Creative Ireland is the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025, which seek to:

• Put culture at the heart of our lives

• Foster creativity

• Celebrate our cultural heritage and traditions

• Recognise the importance of culture to a vibrant society

• See collaboration as the new norm

• Emphasise the international dimension

• Respond to the digital age.

c. What is:

c.1. the scope of the measure:

Local

Regional

National

International

c.2. the nature of the measure:

institutional

c.3. the main feature of the measure:

Creative Ireland is underpinned by the key values identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach. They are:

• The intrinsic value of culture

• The value of culture to our lives and our communities

• The right of everyone to participate in the cultural life of the nation

• The importance of the Irish language, our cultural heritage, folklore, games, music and the uniqueness of our Gaeltacht areas

• The value of cultural diversity, informed by the many traditions and social backgrounds now in Ireland

• The value of culture as a means of fostering a more sustainable future for Ireland, including through economic and social policy

• The value of culture in presenting Ireland to the world.

Its main feature is the collective mobilisation of Irish institutions and citizens to create an Irish cultural legacy.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?:

No

e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?:

The following ten initiatives will be completed and in place by the end of 2017:

1. A national plan to enable every child in Ireland to access tuition in music, drama, art and coding

2. A Culture and Creativity plan in every county

3. A Culture Team, Director-led, configured to local needs, in every county

4. Cruinniú na Cásca programme

5. The Departments of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Social Protection will work together to devise a mechanism to assist self-employed artists who have applied for Jobseekers Allowance. This would be a pilot scheme.

6. A plan for the development of each National Cultural Institution to 2022

7. A five year capital investment programme for the culture and heritage sector

8. An industry-wide, long-term plan, for Ireland as a global hub for the production of Film, TV Drama, and Animation

9. A unified international identity and communications programme for Ireland

10. A new Creative Ireland Forum conference to showcase the best national and international thinking will have taken place.

The five pillars of the Programme will operate through to 2022, with a wide variety of outputs.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure:

Creative Ireland

Government of Ireland

f.2 Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

Irish Government budgetary spending, as well as the use of existing resources.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to:

h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?:

No

h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?:

Yes

h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?:

Yes

i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?:

No

❭ INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL COOPERATION

Culture Ireland – Grant programme

Context of the measure:

INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL COOPERATION

b. Key objectives of the measure:

Culture Ireland promotes Irish arts worldwide. They create and support opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. They develop platforms to present outstanding Irish work to international audiences, through showcases at key global arts events, including the Edinburgh Festivals and the Venice Biennales. Culture Ireland also presented an international culture programme to celebrate the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme globally.

Culture Ireland's grant funding allows Irish artists to travel, present and perform their work to international audiences.

c. What is:

c.1. the scope of the measure:

International

c.2. the nature of the measure:

financial

c.3. the main feature of the measure:

Culture Ireland was established in 2005 to promote and advance Irish arts in a global context, helping to create international opportunities for Irish artists and cultural practitioners and leading to a deeper mutual understanding between Irish and other cultures and communities.

The strategies being pursued to help realise this mission include: providing a flexible range of international funding supports for artists and cultural practitioners; supporting Irish participation in key international showcases, festivals and promotional events; strengthening Ireland’s cultural networks abroad; exploring issues of European cultural identity, diversity and commonality; strengthening cultural relationships with other countries; encouraging diverse cultural communities in Ireland to participate in international artistic exchange and dialogue; contributing to intercultural dialogue; and managing strategic initiatives in response to Government priorities, for example a major Irish arts season in the United States in 2016 as part of Ireland's international commemoration programme.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?:

Yes

e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?:

The results of Culture Ireland's grant funding are immediately measurable:

In 2016, Culture Ireland:

supported 450 artistic projects across 60 countries

reached a live audience of 4.5 million

had 15.5 million online/tv viewers

created 260 jobs

These artistic projects included 100 festivals, over 80 theatre/music tours, 80 exhibitions and art fairs, 123 film screenings, over 40 events in the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris, and 70 performance in Irish Arts Centre, New York.

In 2016, Culture Ireland also:

supported 160 international presenters to experience Irish work

led six international promotional missions abroad

supported 42 Irish bands to perform at 5 international showcases

and enabled the translation of 99 Irish books into foreign languages

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure:

Culture Ireland

f.2 Financial resources allocated to implement the measure:

Culture Ireland's grant scheme is supported by Government of Ireland funding.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to:

h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?:

No

h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?:

No

h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?:

Yes

i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?:

No

❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Making Great Art Work – Spatial and Demographic Planning

Context of the measure:

INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

b. Key objectives of the measure:

Making Great Art Work establishes the coordinates by which the Arts Council will lead the development of the arts in the decade 2016–2025.

The key objectives for the Spatial and Demographic element of this plan are:

- Ensure our policy and strategy are informed by the national planning framework and by good spatial and demographic analysis

- Develop our key strategic partnership with local government

- Ensure investment in arts infrastructure is strategic and sustainable

- Advise and advocate to ensure that national, regional and local capital provision are co-ordinated and sustainable

c. What is:

c.1. the scope of the measure:

Local

Regional

National

c.2. the nature of the measure:

financial

institutional

c.3. the main feature of the measure:

There is a distinctive relationship between people, places and culture. Spatial and demographic principles and information will inform the plans by which we implement our strategy.

Spatial planning – incorporating demographic knowledge – provides important intelligence for collaborative action and shared investment by local and national stakeholders. , Arts planning must be alert to changing spatial and demographic patterns as well as to economic factors.

The sustainable, countrywide development of the arts requires changes to how local, regional and national responsibility for arts provision is exercised.

The main feature of this measure, therefore, is a shift in strategy for the integration of arts policy and planning in Ireland.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?:

Yes

e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?:

The goal of this measure is 'Well-planned arts provision that benefits people across Ireland'.